Frugal Family: Back to School Savings

Having homeschooled my son for preschool last year, this is the first August where we’re being sucked into the joy of back-to-school shopping.

We haven’t received our list of necessary supplies but headed to the store the other night for the obvious backpack, folders, pencils and erasers. It’s easy to see how parents can end up spending hundreds of dollars this time of year so what’s a frugalista to do?

The first thing is the back-to-school wardrobe. My parents were fortunate enough not to have to worry about this part because I was in Catholic school. Why do kids need a new wardrobe? Because everyone else is doing it and it’s just what’s done? I admit – I got sucked in and did some online shopping BUT I used a coupon, took advantage of online sales, bought a size larger than what my son is wearing to extend its use and got button-down shirts so he can make use of his short sleeve t-shirts year-round. Retail Me Not is just one of many websites where you can find coupon codes for online shopping.

What about backpacks? Prices on these crazy things range from $5 to over a hundred depending upon where you go. Can you reuse from the previous year? If you’re lucky yes but how many kids are willing to do that? The old one is now for sleepovers and play dates while the new one will look old and worn in a month. Thankfully they’re on sale and you can pick another an extra one in October when they’re on clearance. Put it aside for next year or use it as an Easter Basket for a surprise switch.

Here's a tip for lunch that I can personally relate to – pack what the kids really want and will actually eat rather than what you want to pack only to have them throw it away. Why waste the money and have a hungry child at the end of day. For almost an entire school year I refused to eat the sandwich my Mom packed me because no matter how many times I told her that I didn’t like them – every day there was a bologna sandwich in my lunchbox. All I wanted was soup in my thermos which she finally gave me and we were all happy.

, , and other stores have had school supplies on sale for weeks so take advantage of it now. Buy two packs of crayons for when the first box is broken. Recycle the broken pieces into new crayons and nothing goes to waste. Markers can be brought back to life if you put them tip side down in a glass of water for an hour then cap them and leave overnight. Those erasers that fit on the pencil will come in handy more so than those fancy ones that look like race cars and barely erase.

As for all those fancy folders and such -- one way to save and make going back to school a little more fun is to get plain folders and binders and decorate them with the kids. Get stickers, paint and other craft supplies and they can have personalized supplies while you not only save a little but have a fun time with the kids creating a new back-to-school family tradition.

One final tip – put your child’s name on anything and everything you can. One of the first reasons they may need a new 'something' is because they lost it. For pencil cases, erasers, sharpeners, etc., a permanent marker can be your best friend.